Did you get to see Mark Ballas and Derek Hough on Disney’s “Shake It Up” Sunday night? It was cool show. If you missed it and special thanks to our Princess Heidi you can view their segment below. Heidi has made some awesome screencaps of the show at Pure Derek Hough as well. Be sure to check them all out when you can! They’re beautiful!!

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud. To view my photography site, see Lisa Kay Photography.

If you haven’t noticed at twitter, promotion for Maks 32nd birthday bash in New York City is in full gear. In light of the event which is only a couple of weeks away, Maks did an interview with Kaptur. Maks dishes on everything from Dancing With The Stars, teaching Dance, the surprise guests and more details on his birthday bash (for what he knows and doesn’t know, lol), his friends and family, and yes, his dog Sir Sleep as well. Excellent interview!! Here is just a little take, but, be sure to read the full interview at Kaptur which is well worth the read.

We had to ask Maks: Where does he get his energy?
“I have to admit, this past year has been intense,” says Maks. “Between choreographing, performing on Dancing With the Stars, launching my jewelry line, writing my blog, teaching dance seminars, planning our June Summer Invitational Showcase, working abroad and now planning the upcoming Birthday Showcase, I really haven’t had much time to relax. It was a very action packed year. But there’s two really important things to keep in mind. One, I have amazing business partners and teams around me. I really couldn’t do it all by myself. Two, I was taught to give your all to what you do and to make the most of what opportunities the world gives you. So I do my best to try to do that. Most people who know me know that I work hard and play hard. I always try to fit it all in. But I won’t lie, it felt really good to get away over the holiday break. I closed out 2011 by letting things slow down just a little bit—but not too much,” he laughs.

One thing he will not cut out of his schedule, however, is teaching. What is it about teaching that Maks seems to enjoy?
“Teaching has always just been a part of who I am,” says Maks. “Even as we were developing the Birthday Ballroom Bash story, it really hit home how much teaching is such a huge part of my life. Starting with the Rising Stars Dance Academy, I guess I’ve always enjoyed helping shape and grow others. I taught Val since he was half my size, maybe even smaller. And I have always taken pride in his success because I know just how hard he worked to succeed. I’d been there with Val each step of the way. Don’t get me wrong, Val is successful in his own right. He earned everything he has worked hard for. We’re all proud of him. But it just feels good for me knowing that maybe I helped him become a little stronger. I’ve done the same for Teddy and Nicole Volynets as well as Kiki Nyemchek and about 20 others, who are all like my own little brothers and sisters, my own family. There’s something amazing about helping others and watching them grow up. It feels good to say in some way maybe big or maybe small, that you helped someone else. Through dance, I’ve been able to do that.”

Mak’s Birthday Bash celebration takes place on January 27th. For ticket information on how you can attend, visit Dance With Me Studios.

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud. To view my photography site, see Lisa Kay Photography.

More photos have been released of Cheryl Burke modeling for her new active wear line for Macy’s. The new Macy’s collection will include jackets, sweatshirts, tops, bras, pants, shorts and accessories ranging from $8 to $58 and will debut this Spring exclusively at Macy’s department stores. So, stay tuned. In the meantime, enjoy this gallery with Cheryl and more previews. You can read and see more on the launch in previous articles here and here.

Stay tuned for a new interview with Cheryl on KTLA later today talking about the new line. She’s also going to talk about her new Latin Jazzercise DVD! Below is a snippet of a new interview with Shape Magazine as well….

SHAPE: What’s it like being on Dancing with the Stars?
CB: Being on Dancing with the Stars is an amazing opportunity. I consider myself lucky to be a part of the show and to be able to share my passion and love of dance with such a huge audience while managing to train a few celebrities in ballroom dance along the way. It has literally been life changing for me.

SHAPE: What are your favorite wellness drinks and snacks to keep you going on the go?
CB: I live by green tea with lemon and honey. I’m not really a snack person, but when I do snack I try to stick to foods that are filling and not just empty calories.

SHAPE: Tell us about your new active wear collection collaboration with Macy’s?
CB: I was honored when approached, as Ideology is the first activewear brand to be exclusive to Macy’s. The line speaks to women of all body types with its feminine cuts, and I know that my fans are going love it. It’s affordable and fashionable.

ADDING: You can go to KTLA now to hear Cheryl’s new interview here. She talks about her new current projects, but, she also talks about Dancing With The Stars. She said she loved dancing with Rob Kardashian and how calm he always was and how that was a key to going as far as they did. Great interview.

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud. To view my photography site, see Lisa Kay Photography.

Today, Paul Lee, ABC Entertainment Group president, told reporters at the Television Critics Association winter press tour, Dancing With The Stars “refreshes itself” depending on it’s “casting” which isn’t always consistent. Below is more from the Hollywood Reporter. Be sure to read the link for the full story.

“Obviously each year the casting kind of tells you where it [will] come out,” said Lee. “We thought we started with a weaker cast this year, and then look what J.R. [Martinez] did.”

The biggest unknown of the cast did go on to win the Season 13 trophy and has since enjoyed a healthy run in the media spotlight by the show’s standards. It’s that kind of surprise, Lee noted, and the different types of “star” that can win favor with viewers that has kept the network invested in the series.

“Sometimes its controversial, like Bristol Palin, sometimes it’s somebody who brings a nostalgic element,” said Lee, “and sometimes its someone people just love — like Kirstie Alley.”

So many seasons in, Lee also tried to convince the crowd to have some perspective on the type of talent they’re able to recruit.

“When you look back at the early seasons,” said the level of celebrity isn’t what it is now.”

It’s true in my opinion. Being inconsistent has a way of keeping things very interesting which makes a person wonder on the new cast for Season 14, doesn’t it?

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud. To view my photography site, see Lisa Kay Photography.

Brooke told the Huffington Post that she hasn’t heard any rumors yet on the new cast of Dancing With The Stars, but, says she can understand them wanting to keep the Kardashian thing going (please no Brooke! I don’t understand it at all. 😐 ). Below is what she says about her dream cast….

“I have always said Oscar De La Hoya — I don’t know if he would ever do it — because I think he would be a blast,” Brooke dishes. “I think a quirky crazy one, because we always need one crazy, is Richard Simmons. I would love to see Suzanne Somers. She would be great.”

Although Brooke says she is not involved in the formal selection process, she does note that over a bottle of wine at dinner with cast members, the group does make a great “wish” list that often gets the producer’s attention.

And Brooke’s quick to add that the show does like controversy, so you never know — Rick Santorum are you listening?

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud. To view my photography site, see Lisa Kay Photography.

Things are really starting to heat up as we get closer to the air date of past episodes of Dancing With The Stars premiering on GSN January 21st. The official site of the Game Show Network has made a new tribute page for the event where you can see more picture promos and video teasers. Be sure to visit the Game Show Network here to see all of their new Dancing With The Stars goodies. Below is a little sample of the celebrities and pros goofing around during the photo sessions. They also talk about dancing, their past partners, etc….

Thanks to Heidi and Pure Derek Hough for the heads up on this news today. Heidi will be posting more fun things soon on this event. So, stay tuned closely! 😉

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud. To view my photography site, see Lisa Kay Photography.

Remember in December when we reported Karina Smirnoff would be making a guest appearance on the ABC show “Apartment 23?” Below is some more information in a new interview with James Van Der Beek from TV Guide on the episode. Note how it has a “Dancing With The Stars” storyline where Justin’s character guns for the mirror ball with Karina Smirnoff. Also note how he’s been asked to dance several times and how it was an inspiration….

How did the Dancing with the Stars storyline come to fruition?
James Van Der Beek: It was an idea that I had. I had been offered [to be on Dancing] a couple times. I always thought it would be kind of fun, but would never do it, but that doesn’t mean the Apartment 23 me can’t do it! [Laughs] I pitched the story line to [Apartment 23 executive producer] Nahnatchka Khan where I would go on Dancing with the Stars. There’s a big joke that I planned out and the only way for it to be funny is if I was a phenomenal dancer.

Lois & Clark’s Dean Cain will guest-star as James’ nemesis and competition on Dancing with the Stars with real-life pro Karina Smirnoff. How was it creating this rivalry with him?
Van Der Beek: It’s great. Dean’s a great sport; he totally gets it. He has great comic timing actually. It’s kind of like a brotherhood of people who went through a show where the character’s name is in the title. You look at each other, nod and go, “I understand.” [Laughs] It was great to have Karina because it felt authentic. I did [ask for tips].

Looks good. I want to see this. Even more, I’d like to see Justin dance for real on Dancing With The Stars. 🙂 More at TV Guide. No information yet as to when this episode will take place.

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud. To view my photography site, see Lisa Kay Photography.